The Modern Gold Rush: A Toxic Passion
old has been a worldwide obsession throughout human history. From the legends of El Dorado to TV shows like Discovery’s Gold Rush and Klondike, the hunt for this precious metal has been deeply romanticized as an adventurous opportunity for affluence and prestige. However, the reality of this global fascination is far detached from its media portrayal. Child labor, price corruption, and environmental destruction commonly eclipse its lauded promise for riches. In the past decades, the rising demand for gold has spurred the development of innumerable artisanal and illegal mining operations that now, according to the EPA, produce about 20% of the global yield (Rastogi). In the global hunt for gold, environmental destruction looms as one of its most harrowing threats.
The Cyanidation Process: Purity at a Price
Much of the environmental concern deals with the substances used in the purification of raw gold ore, which may contain a plethora o f un wanted rocks and minerals. Cyanide is commonly exploited by miners to isolate gold from ore as the chemical makes strong bonds with metals(International Cyanide Management Code). Elsner's Equation for Gold Cyanidation is
the corner stone reaction for the gold
purification process (International Cyanide Management Code). It is given by:
4 Au + 8 NaCN + O2 + 2 H2O → 4 Na[Au(CN)2] + 4 NaOH
This process is negatively affected
by the amount of copper existing within
gold ore, as more applications of cyanide
are needed to compensate for the
production of copper(I) cyanide
(International Cyanide Management).
Despite the productive and environmental
short comings of the technique, many
small scale operations around the world
still use cyanide in their gold processing.
Cyanide toxicology reveals the
destructive nature of the chemical if not
contained and managed effectively. In
humans, cyanide can inhibit the enzyme
cytochrome C oxidase, which plays an integral part in cellular respiration. Without this catalase, glucose cannot be oxidized in the mitochondria and ATP, a main energy source
in the body, cannot be produced (Rathi). At high concentrations, cyanide can cause
unconsciousness and heart failure within minutes. The effect of misuse and negligence of this compound has already been well
catalogued. In the 1980s, around seven thousand birds were found dead along
cyanidelaced ponds near gold mining operations in California and Nevada, (Project
Underground). Furthermore, Cyanide spills from a Canadian gold operation in Kyrgyzstan
caused the death of four people and the relocation of thousands in the area (Project Underground). As artisanal mining increases in prevalance, there is an even greater risk
that mining operations will neglect proper disposal of cyanide and thus cause s ignificant
destruction to local environments.
Mercury
Mercury is also highly prevalent in art is an al mining throughout the world, despite the well known ecological destruction it may cause. Mercury creates an amal gam with gold because of its strong affinity with the element (Broussard 2).
G
February 20, 2000- A dead perch lays on the bank Tisa River in Vojvodina Province, Yugoslavia. A cyanide spill occuring at the Baia Mare Mine caused widespread destruction in downstream the Lapus and Samos rivers (Logan).
By: Theodore Yang
5